Sébastien Le Belzic (special correspondent for Europe 1), edited by Philippe Folgado // Photo credit: Thomas COEX / AFP
modified to
9:11 a.m., October 27, 2023
While the Israeli offensive seems imminent, hospital services are also preparing for combat. Rambam Hospital in Haifa is like any other. However, in its converted basements, it can accommodate a total of 2,000 patients and even operate completely autonomously for 72 hours.
Just a short distance from the Lebanese border, the Rambam hospital in Haifa accommodates up to 1,200 patients on the “surface”. But hidden in the bowels of the building, in the basement, in an old parking lot, a brand new hospital has seen the light of day. “We can accommodate, on three floors, 2,000 patients, which is considerable,” according to Philippe Abecassis, one of the anesthetists on the site.
“We are not heroes”
This hospital is the largest underground hospital in the world. In former parking spaces, monitors are connected, there are oxygen accesses, three operating theaters are installed as well as showers and toilets. Thanks to this, the Rambam hospital can operate with complete autonomy for 72 hours. In addition, it is protected against missile fire, but also biological weapons.
The days and weeks to come nevertheless look difficult, both for all hospital staff and for civilians: “we know that there will be many injured, we know the weapons of Hezbollah, of course that there is concern, we are not heroes. We want to live like everyone else,” concludes Philippe Abecassis.
Since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, there have been daily clashes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces on the southern border of Lebanon.